HBCU Baseball Preseason small school No. 1 Albany State completed a sweep of its scheduled weekend three-game series with Truett McConnell University taking both ends of a doubleheader Saturday after a 4-3 game one opening series win at the Golden Rams Field in Albany, Georgia.
The Golden Rams took game one of the doubleheader 7-3 before clinching the sweep shutting out the Bears 6-0 in the nightcap. Albany State is off to a 4-1 start this season.
In game one of the twinbill, the Golden Rams took a 3-0 lead with a three-run second inning. Jon Henry led off the inning with a double to right field, Chasen Roulhac followed with a bunt single moving Henry to third base. Nate Lloyd singled through the shortstop which scored Henry for the game’s first run, Roulhac advanced to second on the play. Next batter Chase Karn reached on a fielder’s choice. Truett McConnell starting pitcher Craig Barton threw out Roulhac trying to advance to third base. The inning was extended on a fielding error by Truett’s first baseman Connor Bearden which put Gavin Sloan on first and loaded the bases. TJ Thomas singled to center field, plating two more runs for the 3-0 lead.
ASU would add another run in the third inning. Outfielder Kevin Bryant was hit by a pitch and both Kyle Walker and Roulhac singled to put the Golden Rams up 4-0.
The Bears answered with three runs in the top of the fourth inning to make it a one run contest at 4-3. But Albany State answered right back in the bottom half of the fourth adding three runs for the 7-3 final. The big blow in the inning, singles by Albany’s Travis Ray, Roulhac, and Lloyd and three stolen bases in the inning manufactured all the runs for the win.
At the plate, Golden Rams’ TJ Thomas in four at bats had a hit with one run batted in, Ray went 2 for 3, Roulhac was 3 for 4 with two runs batted in and Nate Lloyd’s two hits produced two runs.
On the mound, starter Blaylor Galice went 3.0 innings pitch, allowed three hits, three runs and two strikeouts. In relief, Tyler Berry went 3.0 innings and gave up two hits, while striking out three. Roulhac closed the game getting the final two outs.
In the second game, it was a pitching duel between Albany State’s Malik Barrington and Truett McConnell’s Cason Brown. Both teams would go scoreless through the first three innings. The Golden Rams took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Peter Setterich singled to left field and stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch. Gavin Sloan singled to center field which plated Setterich for the first run. Albany State would score five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to complete the series sweep.
Peter Setterich had a great day at the plate. Everything he hit was hit on the barrel. Gavin Sloan was 2 for 4 at the plate with three runs batted in. In his second start, Malik Barrington threw six innings of one hit, no runs ball while striking out three. Michael Reddick closed the game in relief.